After twenty-eight weeks with no workdays SSNTV final rescued the tools from their enforced hibernation as on Sunday thirteen members ventured out to the southern point of Staffordshire, at Kinver Edge to resume the work they most enjoy – destruction in the woods!
To break the group back in gently, the task for the day was clearing brash and thinning sycamore trees on the Trust land at Gorse Covert, creating wind rows or dead-hedges with the material instead of a burn.
This work aims to increase light into this dense wooded area – ever noticed how big a sycamore leaf is – to encourage natural regeneration of the florae along with increased migration of wildlife from the adjacent fields.
In keeping with current times, the day started with a return to work induction and COVID reminder from Ranger, Tom. After that a fully social distanced workday followed…..
Lunch was taken with us all sitting around the five litre container of hand sanitiser – radiating out its protective powers, rather than with heat from a more traditional bonfire!
The day was broken up into one hour working sessions enabling the group to survive this first day back, as numerous aches and pains developed as the day went on.
It’s amazing how much brash a group can generate and have to move around if there’s no fire! After a full day however, the sun was beginning to creep through the reducing canopy – so that our efforts were starting to bear fruit!
Fingers crossed – further workdays are arranged for the beginning of November and December at nearby Dudmaston and hopefully more will soon be added to the embryonic program.
